Xi'an Digital Projects
OBJETIVE
Guided by the overarching principle of “validating through construction and demonstrating through application”, the Xi’an Pioneering Pilot Project for Data Circulation and Utilization Infrastructure Development aims to “build a national hub city for data circulation and utilization”. By establishing a “1-3-2-1-N” data circulation and utilization infrastructure system comprising “one foundation base, three processing methods, two circulation platforms, one operational portal, and a number of industry-specific scenarios”, the project seeks to promote high-quality data products and services through exemplary scenario applications, thereby fostering new digital economic formats and models centred on data innovation.
Xi’an Metropolitan Area Smart Digital Platform for Urban Space and Road Transportation Project aims to advance smart transportation development by constructing a unified digital foundation integrating industry-specific networks, systems, and data resources, enabling seamless data sharing and exchange across platforms. Through the establishment of an integrated smart transportation planning-construction-management-operation-maintenance platform, the project digitalizes and streamlines administrative approval for infrastructure upgrades and construction projects. This platform further supports data-driven spatial planning for urban territories, road networks and their ancillary facilities, and industrial layouts, empowering evidence-based decision-making in traffic operation management.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The projects are divided into two categories. The first focuses on promoting key initiatives in specialised areas, such as data circulation and utilisation infrastructure, the integrated national computing power network, new types of infrastructure to ensure security, and infrastructure that supports forward-looking strategic emerging industries. The second prioritises promoting the implementation of projects in areas such as the comprehensive digital transformation of cities, sector-specific digital transformation, and the promotion of digital industrial clusters.
- Aimed at senior citizens, Xi'an has developed the ‘i Xi'an’ digital government services platform, which focuses on the needs of residents and leverages modern Internet technologies. The platform aims to improve citizens' experience with smart city services, streamline administrative procedures, and provide comprehensive services covering daily life, education, employment, healthcare, and elderly care. The platform has a section dedicated to elderly care, where seniors can easily access information about senior dining halls, community service centres for seniors, and care institutions via their smartphones, while also being able to process retirement paperwork and submit complaints or suggestions online. For rural seniors with disabilities or in poverty, the platform allows them to apply for subsidies online with simplified processes. In addition, Xi'an has launched a pilot programme for smart nursing homes with five key innovations: smart registration, smart dining systems, technology-assisted care, smart security, and digital management. These institutions implement smart applications for multiple scenarios, such as comprehensive admission services with convenient family visitation systems, smart meal selection with dietary planning, and food safety monitoring.
- For citizens in financial difficulty, the ‘i Xi'an’ platform offers free legal assistance services. Users can apply online through the platform to receive professional legal advice and assistance, effectively protecting their legitimate rights and interests.
- For non-local residents, the platform allows them to apply online for the replacement or renewal of their identity card and driving licence through mobile applications, eliminating the need for multiple trips and significantly saving processing time, resulting in a more efficient and convenient service experience.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
- Validation and practical demonstration
- Development of advanced digital infrastructures
- Promotion of the data-driven digital economy
- Sectoral and territorial integration
- Focus on citizenship and inclusion
- Innovation in public and social services
- Scalability and replicability
- Contribution to data-driven decision-making
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
The Xi'an Pioneer Pilot Project for the Development of Data Circulation and Utilisation Infrastructure has made the most of the multiplier, cascade and catalyst effects of data elements, creating an integrated solution at the hardware and software product level. This solution enables interconnectivity between sectors and regions, mutual trust and mutual recognition in data circulation and utilisation. The project has validated the feasibility, applicability, ease of use and reusability of fundamental technical pathways by building a centralised, efficient and secure data circulation infrastructure. The demonstration scenarios have catalysed the development of high-quality data products and services, established operational mechanisms for data circulation and utilisation, and fostered a thriving ecosystem of local data service providers, empowering key industries such as equipment manufacturing and cultural tourism with data-driven innovations.
The Xi'an Metropolitan Area Smart Digital Platform for Urban Space and Road Transport project has established a unified ‘single map’ system that integrates planning, land use, railways, motorways, urban railways, municipal roads and other related elements into a comprehensive transport framework. The platform has developed core capabilities for accurate perception, reliable simulation, agile forecasting, refined assessment, and proactive control of metropolitan corridor operations, while improving daily maintenance, asset protection, operational monitoring, safety alerts, and data-driven decision-making capabilities for major motorways, in order to support the expansion of the smart corridor and improve the traffic capacity of major road networks. By building a future-oriented intelligent transport and mobility management and service system, the project has established a dynamic full-spectrum sensing network covering all transport elements, enabling data fusion and application across the sector. It has also promoted the holistic integration of intelligent transport services, ensuring operational consistency, application interoperability and data convergence across the metropolitan area. Ultimately, the platform has achieved coordinated municipal road planning, science-based construction and renovation, intelligent infrastructure management, and precision-guided traffic control and dispatch, fostering a resilient, efficient, and sustainable urban mobility ecosystem.
Montevideo Observatory + Open Data Platform
AIM
- Democratization of information: Provide public access to data and indicators on various aspects of the city
- Government transparency: Improve the transparency of municipal management by making City Hall data accessible in a user-friendly manner
- Support for decision-making: Provide quality data to drive research and informed decision-making in areas such as urban mobility
- Environmental monitoring: Enable public monitoring of the state of ecosystems, water, air, and soil quality
- Improving quality of life: Share health strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of residents and visitors
- Economic development: Boost tourism and the economic and social development of the department through the tourism observatory
- Urban planning: Stimulate innovation in data capture, visualization, and analysis processes for territorial planning
- Cultural promotion: Facilitate access to data on Montevideo's cultural reality, democratizing knowledge about the city's cultural life
Observatorio (https://montevidata.montevideo.gub.uy) /Portal DA (https://ckan.montevideo.gub.uy)
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The Montevideo City Council has created a Data Observatory (Montevidata), a platform that facilitates public access to key information on various aspects of the city. This digital space allows citizens, academics, and organizations transparent access to data—made available through the Open Data Portal—ranging from environmental indicators and visualizations to gender equality policies.
At its core, the Environmental Observatory offers information on ecosystems, water, air, and soil quality, while the Health Department uses this tool to share strategies aimed at improving quality of life. It also includes data on urban mobility, fostering research and informed decisions.
Tourism benefits from a dedicated observatory that promotes economic and social development. Likewise, the territorial observatory promotes innovation in urban planning, and the cultural observatory highlights Montevideo's artistic and social richness.
Furthermore, it addresses topics such as socio-labor integration and gender equality, providing information on public employment policies, training, and strategies to build a more equitable city. This observatory represents a step toward more transparent and participatory governance, reflecting the diversity and complexity of Montevideo.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
- Support from the authorities for the creation and consolidation of the platform.
- Strong involvement from the various departments of the Municipality, fostering a sense of ownership of the project.
MAIN RESULTS OBTAINED
Validation of the use of new technologies for the benefit of the population; greater transparency and demonstrating actions based on the evidence provided by data analysis and visualizations.
Microcredential – Social Digital Mentoring
AIM
The project seeks to professionalize the role of the digital mentor, conceived as the person responsible for supporting citizens in the use of digital tools, ensuring that no one is excluded from the digital transformation process. Through specialized training in the form of a university micro-credential, mentors acquire technical, social, and communication skills that enable them to provide quality support. This role can be used in public administration, the private sector, and the third sector, expanding its impact in various fields.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The project has been developed around five areas:
- Digital Inclusion: Ensure that the entire population has equitable access to digital technologies and the necessary skills to use them, reducing the digital divide.
- Training and Specialization: Implement a training program for the creation of digital mentors, through a university micro-credential, which strengthens technical, social, and communication skills.
- Creation of Assistance Points: Establish "digitALL" points in strategic customer service spaces, providing accessible and accessible digital assistance.
Multisectoral Collaboration: Involve public administration, the private sector, third-sector organizations, and universities to ensure a comprehensive, sustainable, and coordinated approach. - Creation of a Social Digital Community: Foster a support network between mentors and users that facilitates cooperation and the development of joint initiatives to advance digital inclusion.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
To achieve the desired impact and ensure the sustainability of the Microcredential – Social Digital Mentoring, we consider the following factors essential:
- Multisectoral commitment: Collaboration between the public administration, the private sector, universities, and the third sector is key to consolidating a comprehensive and sustainable approach.
- Quality training: A program tailored to the needs of digital mentors, combining technical, social, and communication skills with a practical approach focused on citizen service.
- Creation and revitalization of a digitalALL community: Beyond forming a network of mentors and users, it is essential to energize it to promote collective initiatives and concrete solutions that contribute to bridging the digital divide in the city.
- Accessible and operational digital assistance points: Ensure that these spaces have well-defined services, strategic locations, and institutional support to offer effective digital support to citizens.
- Sufficient human and financial resources: Having stable funding and qualified personnel is essential for the continuity and scalability of the project.
- Adaptability and innovation: Flexibility to respond to new digital needs, integrate technological advances, and adjust methodologies according to evolving environments.
- Communication and awareness strategy: Effective dissemination to highlight the role of the digital mentor, attract new participants, and build public trust.
- Continuous evaluation and improvement: Establish impact indicators and collect feedback to optimize both training and digital support services.
- Project governance: Clear management model, with defined roles and coordination mechanisms.
MAIN RESULTS OBTAINED
The first edition of the microcredential program is currently underway, with 15 future digital mentors in training, scheduled to conclude in April. A digital community will then be formed, comprised of these mentors and other interested individuals, such as those who expressed interest in the digital divide survey conducted among the population.
This community will play a key role in defining the services offered by the "digitALL" service centers, which are scheduled to launch in the second half of the year.
BilbaoAccess
OBJECTIVES
Development and implementation of an automatic vehicle access control system for areas with special traffic conditions in order to regulate and control pedestrian preference zones and thus facilitate coexistence in these areas with the mobility needs of different groups (residents, shopkeepers, hoteliers, etc.).
The first area to be integrated into the new control system was the Old Quarter, and other pedestrian areas of the city will gradually be incorporated.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
• Definition of entry conditions and authorised profiles.
• Identification of the specific needs of Bilbao City Council and the different economic activities affected.
• Development of a Control Centre for the correct management, operation and compliance with access conditions.
• Definition of integrations with municipal and extra-municipal information systems.
• Development of a municipal mobile application so that users can manage their authorisations.
• Installation of 30 Control Points in the Old Town area.
• Development of tests in the 3 municipal environments and coordination with the Municipal Police in order to define the applicable sanctioning process.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
• Provision of a Citizen Service Office to provide information, both in person and by telephone, on the conditions of access to the Old Town site.
• Use of different communication strategies (information through municipal channels, information leaflets, etc.) to inform citizens about the implementation of the access control system.
• Clear definition of objectives and scope from the beginning of the project.
• Involvement of the different municipal agents: BilbaoTIK, Public Safety and Economy and Finance.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
• Promotion of sustainable mobility.
• Reducing the level of vehicles circulating in the Old Town, reducing greenhouse gases and the noise generated by them.
• The reduction in traffic has contributed to an increased sense of security among the elderly and increased local economic activity.
• The automation of registration processes has made it possible to speed up procedures for citizens with mobility needs.
• The automation of control processes has reduced fraud generated by unauthorised access to priority areas.
Bogotá Smart Territory
The Bogotá Smart Territory Policy establishes an implementation horizon from 2023 to 2032, promoting sustainable solutions based on data.
OBJECTIVES
Consolidate Bogotá as a Smart Territory by promoting the use and exploitation of data, technology and innovation by the actors and sectors of the territory, to solve problems and generate opportunities that improve people's quality of life.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The Bogotá Territorio Inteligente 2023-2032 Public Policy is an initiative led by the High Councillor for ICTs of the General Secretariat of the Office of the Mayor of Bogotá. Its formulation process began in 2021 and went through different phases: preparatory, public agenda and policy formulation. As a result of this process, the final version of the action plan of the Bogotá Smart Territory Public Policy was generated. This action plan includes 7 specific objectives, 7 results and 36 products that will be the responsibility of 14 district entities of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá. The policy was approved on 31 May 2023 and is valid for 10 years.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
The Bogotá Smart Territory Policy establishes an implementation horizon from 2023 to 2032, promoting sustainable solutions based on data, technology, and innovation, and seeks an intersectoral intervention for the development of a smart territory in Bogotá.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
During the process of formulating the Bogotá Smart Territory Policy, the insufficient conditions were identified to develop a collective intelligence based on data, technology and innovation that efficiently responds to the city's problems. Sixty joint construction spaces were held with the participation of more than 24,000 people from different sectors, where the problematic situation was characterised, and strategic factors were defined using design thinking methodologies. Subsequently, the action plan was drawn up in 22 virtual roundtables with public servants and feedback was received from the entities, resulting in the approval of the Bogotá Smart Territory Public Policy on 31 May 2023, with 7 objectives, 7 results and 36 products in charge of 14 district entities for a 10-year period.
Digital Inequalities Observatory
When it comes to better understanding digital inequalities and improving the impact of local policies, there is a lack of tools. The creation of an observatory aims to fill this need.
OBJECTIVES
The constant renewal of the digital environment is threatening the ability to maintain contact with public administration, economic opportunities, health services and their social environment. When it comes to better understanding digital inequalities and improving the impact of local policies, there is a lack of tools. The creation of a local observatory aims to fill this need, through collaboration with other cities is a path towards greater comparability and benchmarking in the future.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The observatory has emerged in two main stages. First, statistical work on existing data has made it possible to extrapolate the main characteristics of the population most affected by the digital divide. Then, a survey of 5,000 inhabitants allowed us to go a step further, refining the definition of the various priority groups, avoiding preconceived conclusions, and discovering new needs. The action has been developed with a constant reference to the digital skills sets at European level (DIGICOMP), again to ensure comparability in the future.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
The success of this project lies not only in the methodological soundness of its implementation, but it is also an opportunity, from the beginning and throughout its life cycle, to bring together a whole ecosystem of stakeholders interested in a better understanding of digital inequalities: social services at state, regional and municipal level, public and private partners, key players, on the ground, dealing with the consequences of digitally impaired citizens.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
The clear vision of the map and nature of digital inequalities, from connectivity to digital culture, digital skills, the ability to understand the changes, has achieved its main objective: to create lasting and operational knowledge. This main objective has organically generated another: the need to better represent the populations affected by the digital divide.
Intelligent processing: From Reactive Public Administration to Pro-Active
The implementation of the ATM's Digital Platform benefited more than 300,000 taxpayers in the province of Mendoza, who can now carry out their procedures online.
OBJECTIVES
Transformation of the State from reactive to proactive, cost reduction, operational efficiency, empowerment of public employees and care for the environment.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
In March 2020, the Mendoza Tax Administration (ATM) implemented its Digital Platform, allowing taxpayers to carry out all their procedures online. During the quarantine, ATM employees worked from home, training remotely to manage the procedures entered by taxpayers through the platform. Error and rework were reduced by establishing strict requirements for each procedure. Over time, automated services were added, and self-management of procedures became more common. This cultural change included the simplification of procedures and the adoption of electronic management, which resulted in greater transparency, faster and more accessible services, greater security, institutional efficiency, cost reduction and the freeing of physical space. Digital signatures and blockchain certification were implemented to prevent fraud. ATM integrated with other public agencies for the exchange of administrative information, saving time and resources and transforming the state from reactive to proactive.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
The pandemic prompted the digitization of the entire organization by reengineering processes through the implementation of the BPM (Business Process Management) methodology. In this sense, three key factors for the success of the initiative stand out: judicial notifications by means of geolocation mobile devices, automation of the single certificate of transfer of real estate and automation of the non-withholding and non-collection process.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
The implementation of the ATM's Digital Platform has benefited more than 300,000 taxpayers in the province of Mendoza, who can now carry out their procedures online. This has led to a 90% reduction in face-to-face attention. With the automation of the non-withholding and non-receipt procedures, specialized personnel have been freed up and an instant resolution has been achieved, which previously took hours. The processing of the single transfer certificate has also been automated, which has generated savings in time, costs, and transfers, in addition to reducing the margin of error.
BRISE - Building Regulations Information for Submission Envolvement
BRISE-Vienna's approach combines the high-tech planning tool Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to create a comprehensive digital and automated approval process.
OBJECTIVES
Achieve a fully digital submission process for building permits, combining Building Information Modelling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The BRISE - Vienna approach combines the high-tech planning tool Building Information Modelling with Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to create a comprehensive end-to-end automated digital approval process.
In this context, the BRISE - Vienna solution lays an innovative foundation that will bring about a paradigm shift in the processing of building projects: from planning to submission and review procedures, all the way to acceptance of the finished building. BRISE - Vienna thus sets a new international benchmark in the field of digitalization of urban management processes.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
BRISE - Vienna was created in close cooperation between the Vienna administration and partners from TU Vienna, the Chamber of Civil Engineers Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland, as well as ODE and WH Media. In addition, it involved 13 pilot partners as practitioners in the project, contributing their expertise and testing the practical feasibility of BRISE.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
The BRISE - Vienna project has achieved results such as fast feedback, visualization of building status, secure data access, automatic deviation analysis, efficient virtual negotiations and simplified and sustainable processes.
Kitchener Tech Connect
The program has been successful, with the participation of more than 1,410 seniors.
OBJECTIVES
Provide technology training and resources to older adults in the city to improve their social connections, information access and online safety.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
Among the actions developed within the framework of the program are free technology training in both virtual and face-to-face modalities (in the different local community centres). In addition, a technology loan program ("iPads" and "Chromebooks") is included, and they are helped to establish connections with community resources that lead to the resolution of their daily problems.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
Key enablers of the project's success include grant funding from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors program, as Kitchener Tech Connects began during the pandemic to support seniors in maintaining connections with family and friends.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
The program provides information and training to ensure that seniors can access vital services online, such as bill payments, grocery shopping or booking medical appointments. In addition, partnerships with community groups have helped implement the program and provide technical support.
The program has attracted considerable interest, with more than 1,410 seniors participating in 193 different classes.
Cybersecurity for citizenship: Training
Cybersecurity for citizenship: Training
OBJECTIVES
Thanks to the success of Bilbao WiFi, the City Council is in a privileged position to create new cyber-defense systems for its citizens, who can be individually alerted of the risks observed in their terminals and devices.
Basically, it is a matter of taking the concept of security offered by the Police in the world of atoms to the world of bits in cyberspace.
Bilbao WiFi detects and blocks malware, but citizens are not notified of these blocks, so the malware will remain fully operational when they connect to their mobile network or any other WiFi network.
Enabling this service (freely available to individuals) will allow citizens to be alerted that malware is observed in their traffic and that they should contact an expert center and/or install defensive measures. To solve this situation, Bilbao is launching a Citizen Cybersecurity Project.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS CARRIED OUT
The Cybersecurity Project has become a key priority in the Bilbao City Council's citizen security policy.
Security on the network is a critical element for society in general and for citizens in particular, insofar as 20% of crimes already occur online and despite this, cyberspace remains a place that is not particularly protected for citizens by public authorities.
This Cybersecurity project is based on the creation of a real-time information platform to identify and block digital threats and inform each person individually and in real time of latent threats detected on their device. The project also integrates a Cybersecurity Awareness and Training Plan for Citizens, to provide them with tools for their protection in the digital world.
The project team has conducted seven workshops to test the key elements of the project (warning system, training, and communication) with the following target groups: - Seniors, - University students, - Teenagers, - People with functional diversity, - Professionals, - Citizens. 121 people participated in these test actions.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
The project covers a security area that is not particularly protected by the public authorities, which to a large extent continue to think almost exclusively about security in the physical world.
It integrates a Cybersecurity Awareness and Training Plan, in order to provide citizens with tools for their protection in the digital world.
MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
As a result of citizen feedback, several improvements were made to the prototype, some of which are as follows:
- Simplification of the enrollment and login process.
- Integration of a complaint report to the alert message, facilitating the legal process.
- Improvements in the explanation of privacy and how the City Council cannot (and does not try to) access personal information on the device.
- To ensure the success of the Cybersecurity service, design of a Communication Plan that was contrasted with the participants.
In relation to the second line of action of this Project: A Training Program was designed, contrasted with the participants and structured in three branches of knowledge: digital competences, digital identity and personal cybersecurity. Within each family, the topics about which citizens have a greater knowledge are:
- Application security and digital rights
- Personal data protection and fingerprinting
- Backup and use of passwords, device updates
The questions you would like to know more about are:
- Application security
- Personal data protection
- Safe shopping on the Internet and prevention of online scams
As a conclusion, it was deduced that, in general, participants have less knowledge about digital identity and conflict notification and telematic complaint process: personal cybersecurity.
Also, from Bilbao, the interest of this Project and its transferability to other national and international cities, such as Vienna, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Valencia, San Sebastian, Vitoria, Logroño, Dusseldorf, Monterrey, Moscow, Philadelphia, Prague, Quito, Santiago de Chile, Turin, was contrasted.
In recognition of the project, Bilbao was a 2021 Global Mayors Challenge Finalist City. Cybersecurity. Headings presented:
- Platform for the identification and blocking of digital threats detected in the municipal WIFI network, and in turn, inform the affected of the existence of such threat.
- Awareness programs and training programs for citizens. With this result, Bilbao was among the fifty cities around the world selected for its ideas in global innovation and transformative urban solutions that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.